As Journey soared to superstardom and his voice became the sound of a generation, Steve Perry, now 76, vanished from the spotlight – a sudden, silent exit that left fans and the music industry stunned for nearly two decades.
Steered the band into a new era
At only 10 years old, Steve Perry’s lifelong passion for music was sparked the moment he heard Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” playing on his mother’s car radio. That soulful voice ignited something deep in him – and it never let go.
Years later, after college and early stints in local bands, Perry, 28 at the time, joined Journey in 1977, bringing with him a soaring, operatic tenor and raw emotional depth that would redefine the band’s sound.
“They were really an amazing performing band. But they didn’t have any quote ‘hit records,’ and weren’t on the radio much,” Perry told GQ in 2008 of his early days with the now iconic band.
At the time, Journey was known more for its jazz-rock fusion than chart-topping hits. But everything changed when he teamed up with guitarist Neal Schon. Together, they steered the band into a new era – blending hard rock with heartfelt ballads – and launched Journey into stadium-rock superstardom.
‘Oh Sherrie’
Just as the band was reaching its peak, Perry was in a relationship with a woman named Sherrie Swafford, who inspired his 1984 solo hit “Oh Sherrie” – the first solo track he released while still a member of Journey.
“Sherrie and I were crazy in love, I can tell you that. And it was a very tough time because the band was peaking,” the singer told the Tampa Bay Times, per The Hollywood Reporter, in 2011. “And if any woman out there thinks that it would be real exciting to be the girlfriend of somebody in a band like that and that it would be all peaches and cream, the truth is that it’s hard to navigate a relationship when you’re in the midst of such a ride.”
International fame
In the meantime, Journey had become one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Their 1981 album “Escape” went multi-platinum, and Perry was hailed as one of the greatest vocalists in rock history. His range, tone, and emotional delivery were second to none. Journey had it all – chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and legions of devoted fans.
But the demands of fame began to take their toll.
In a 2018 interview with the New York Times, the “Open Arms” singer revealed that burnout played a significant role.
“As a vocalist,” Perry explained, “your instrument is you. It’s not just your throat, it’s you. If you’re burnt out, if you’re depressed, if you’re feeling weary and lost and paranoid, you’re a mess.”
Journey went on hiatus in 1987, and while they briefly regrouped in the mid-90s, things didn’t go smoothly.
Comeback
In 1996, the band released “Trial by Fire,” which included the hit single “When You Love a Woman.” It looked like a comeback was underway – until Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii.
His injury required surgery, but Perry was hesitant to go under the knife. The delay led to tensions with the band. Journey, needing to tour, gave him an ultimatum: get the surgery or they’d move on without him. Perry chose to walk away and became a recluse for the next 20 years.
“We’d worked so hard, and we were fortunate to have such great success. But with that success came a serious schedule […] I just hit the wall, and I started to lose my passion for singing,” he told radio station 106.7 Lite FM.
Kellie Nash
But there was more to it than burnout.
Perry – had found love with a woman named Kellie Nash, a psychologist who had terminal cancer.
“I was loved by a lot of people, but I didn’t really feel it as much as I did when Kellie said it,” he told the Times. “Because she’s got better things to do than waste her time with those words.”
After less than two years together, Nash, 40, died on December 14, 2012.
Her death, though heartbreaking, ultimately inspired Perry to return to music.
Speaking with the New York Times, Perry recalled a promise he made to her before she died: “She said, ‘If something were to happen to me, promise me you won’t go back into isolation. Because that would make this all for naught.”
‘Open arms’
In 2018, Perry made good on that promise. After 24 years away from the studio, he released “Traces,” his first solo album since 1994. The album was deeply personal, shaped by grief, love, and reflection.
“I don’t even know if ‘coming back’ is a good word,” he told the Times days after the release of his album. “I’m in touch with the honest emotion, the love of the music I’ve just made. And all the neurosis that used to come with it, too. All the fears and joys. I had to put my arms around all of it. And walking back into it has been an experience, of all of the above.”
Despite his long absence, Perry’s influence never faded. The timeless track “Don’t Stop Believin’” found new life in pop culture, from the Sopranos finale to Glee, and the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, introducing his voice to a new generation. Rolling Stone has listed him among the greatest singers of all time, and his vocal style continues to inspire countless artists.
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